Authorities in Costa Rica have found two bodies in the search for six people, apparently including the German businessman behind Gold’s Gym, who went missing when their small plane disappeared from radar just off the country’s Caribbean coast
ByJAVIER CÓRDOBA Associated Press
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — Authorities in Costa Rica have found two bodies in the search for six people, apparently including the German businessman behind Gold’s Gym, who went missing when their small plane disappeared from radar just off the country’s Caribbean coast.
The Security Ministry said the bodies of one adult and one child had been found, but that the bodies had not yet been identified.
Searchers also turned up backpacks and bags, and pieces of the plane.
All five passengers were believed to be German citizens, said Security Minister Jorge Torres. The plane’s pilot was Swiss.
Costa Rican authorities said pieces of the twin-engine turboprop aircraft were found in the water Saturday, after the flight went missing Friday.
A flight plan filed for the small plane listed Rainer Schaller as a passenger. A man by the same name runs international chains of fitness and gym outlets, including Gold’s Gym and McFit. At least one other of those aboard the plane seemed to be a relative of Schaller, but the relation was not immediately confirmed by authorities.
Searchers are concentrating on a site about 17 miles (28 kilometers) off the coast from the Limon airport.
The plane was a nine-seat Italian-made Piaggio P180 Avanti, known for its distinctive profile. It disappeared from radar as it was heading to Limon, a resort town on the coast.
The security minister said the flight had set out from Mexico.
Five German passengers were on a flight from Mexico to the Limon airport when it was alerted to them, according to Torres. An immediate search was conducted but was temporarily suspended due to bad weather.
The RSG Group, a collection of 21 fitness, lifestyle, and fashion brands that operates in 48 countries and employs 41,000 people directly or through franchises, lists Rainer Schaller as its “Founder, Owner and CEO.”
Requests for comment regarding whether Schaller had been on board the aircraft went unanswered by the RSG Group.
As the director of the Berlin Love Parade techno festival, Schaller made headlines in 2010. At the event, a crush left more than 500 people injured and 21 dead. Authorities at the time claimed that Schaller’s security was negligent in failing to prevent the flow of people into a tunnel when things were already tense at the festival grounds’ entrance.
In response to the accusations of wrongdoing, Schaller pointed out that his security plan had received official city approval.
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